The Role of Technology
The science of climate change is problematic and complex. Measurements must be collected over long periods of time and in many locations. Organizations all over the world have to agree on standards and protocols for sharing data and presenting results. The data is “noisy,” with gaps and fluctuations that are difficult to explain in the short term, but consistent with long term patterns of years, decades, centuries, and millennia. The amount and types of data continue to accumulate at an ever-expanding rate, compounding the issue of emerging informative and practical knowledge.
Instruments to measure CO 2 are common, but not all are sensitive enough to measure parts per million. CO 2 is only one of several greenhouse gases, some of which are much harder to measure. Most instruments need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure that their accuracy has not changed over time. Instruments for measuring gases require electricity and are not designed to be left outdoors.
There are many indicators of climate change. With the aid of the Internet, data can be collected and shared from a wide variety of locations and sources. Water levels can be taken from lakes, gasoline consumption from transportation agencies, the movement of vegetation from the Parks departments, the frequency of fires and floods from public safety organizations. The Climate Clock represents the integration of a vast network of sensors, data and visualization resources.
In designing the Climate Clock, artists and technologists will also want to consider the impact of the art work itself on the environment. If it consumes electricity, can the power be generated from a renewable source like wind or photovoltaics? Can the work be made from recycled materials? What kinds of construction technologies will the artwork need to survive and function in the open for 100 years? The Climate Clock should not only meet current criteria for sustainable design, such as the LEED standards, but also serve as a model for innovative practices.
Solving these challenges will have benefits beyond the individual work of art. They may lead to new inventions, patents and products that will be of global benefit.